Epsom Derby | Horse Racing World | Colts Classic | Derby History | Derby Past Winners Horse Racing World Epsom Derby Epsom Derby The Derby is known more internationally as the Epsom Derby, is without any doubt one of the most prestigious thoroughbred horse races in the world. It takes place each year on the first weekend in June at Epsom Racecourse in Surrey and is regarded as the major racing colts Classic of the UKâ€™s flat season . Introduction In the Horse Racing World in the UK, the Epsom Derby is one of the five British Classic Races, the others being the 1000 Guineas, 2000 Guineas, The Oaks and the St Leger and it is the second leg of the English Triple Crown preceded by the 2,000 Guineas and followed by the St. Leger. The Epsom Derby Betting is open to three-year-old only colts and fillies, however it is rare these days for fillies to take their chances. The equivalent race for fillies only is the Oaks and for older horses the Coronation Cup, both run over the same course and distance.

Most Derby contenders are prepared for the race by running in one or more of the recognised Derby Trials, however many also race in the 2000 Guineas in order to confirm their speed. Derby winners by and large will go on to compete for the big international races later in the season, races such as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Breeders' Cup Classic in the United States. History The Derby is named after the 12th Earl of Derby and had its first official running in 1780 in a race won by a horse called Diomed. The first four Derbyâ€™s were over a distance of 1 mile, but this was amended in 1784 to the current distance of 1Â½ miles. Its latest winner was New Approach who had been second in the 2000 Guineas one month before. Sinndar, trained by John Oxx in Ireland was the last horse to win both the Epsom Derby and the Arc de Triomphe in the same year, he acheived this inÂ 2000 in a year that also saw him win the Irish Derby.

Other great winners of recent years include Lammtarra, who finished his career unbeaten in four races, he is the fastest ever recorded winner of the Derby and he also went on toÂ the Prix de lâ€™Arc de Triomph in the same year; Lammtarra also won the King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Mill Reef was another who went on to win the Derby and the Arc in 1971, yet he was not regarded as the best horse of his day, that honour went to Brigadier Gerrard. Recent Past Winners The Epsom Derby has a Roll of Honour which is simply littered with great horses, trainers and jockeys. It is a race that demands speed, particularly in the final two furlongs, it is usually won by a horse amongst the favourites and who have had good recent form. Take a look at the past winners over the last ten years. 2008 Major Races & Events in the United Kingdom & Ireland Galway Races The British Classics The five most prestigious flat races in the United Kingdom are known collectively as the British Classics. They are among the most valuable races in the world and winning any one of them is considered a significant achievement.

Horses only get one chance to enter them as they are all restricted to three year olds only. The five British Classics are as follows. 2,000 Guineas Stakes (held at Newmarket) Epsom Derby (Epsom Downs) 1,000 Guineas Stakes (Newmarket) Epsom Oaks (Epsom Downs) The first three listed above constitute the English Triple Crown. There are several Triple Crowns in Thoroughbred racing but the term was first applied in England. Winning all three races that make up the English Triple Crown (or any other Triple Crown for that matter) is regarded as an incredible feat and it’s rarely achieved. It has only been done 15 times, and not once since 1970. The Irish Triple Crown The Irish Triple Crown is made up of three races that were inspired by the three that make up the English Triple Crown. There’s an Irish 2,000 Guineas, an Irish Derby and Irish St. Leger and they too have large prize pools. Whereas the English equivalents are run at different courses, in Ireland they are all run at the same course – Curragh.

Only two horses have won the Irish Triple Crown, the last one doing so in 1945. Royal Ascot Festival The Royal Ascot festival is one of the most famous, and glamorous, race meetings in the world. It has taken place since the early 18th century and is attended every year by members of the British royal family. It’s held annually in June and a number of Group 1 races take place over five days, with millions in prize money awarded. The Grand National The most important National Hunt race in the calendar, and the most valuable jump race in Europe, the Grand National is steeped in history. It’s run annually at Aintree in Liverpool and attracts huge audiences in countries all over the world. First held in 1839, it’s incredibly challenging with larger fences than are usually found in jump races. King George VI Chase Another notable National Hunt Race, the King George VI Chase traditionally takes place on Boxing Day each year. It’s held at Kempton Park as part of the annual Winter Festival there. The race is run over three miles and 18 fences, and is for four year olds and up.

Cheltenham Festival There are few events in the British racing calendar that are as popular as the Cheltenham Festival. Every March this meeting attracts large crowds on each of its four days and consistently generates some of the best atmospheres in racing. Several races take place during the festival, the most important of which is the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Newbury Winter Festival Another popular National Hunt meeting, the Newbury Winter Festival, takes place annually at the end of November. It’s spread out over three days and features a number of races including the prestigious Hennessy Gold Cup. Irish Grand National The Irish Grand National is based on the English equivalent that’s held at Aintree each year, although it’s a little less challenging. Inaugurated in 1870, it takes place annually at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday. It’s run over a distance of three miles and five furlongs with a total of 24 fences to be jumped. Punchestown Festival The largest National Hunt festival held in Ireland, the Punchestown Festival is widely regarded as the Irish equivalent of the Cheltenham Festival.

It takes place over five days, usually in April, and features a number of Grade 1 races including the Punchestown Gold Cup. Galway Races The Galway Races is another racing festival held in Ireland. It starts on the last Monday of July each year and lasts for seven days, making it the longest Irish meet. Unusually, the festival features a combination of flat and jump races. A very popular event, it consistently attracts large crowds. Horse Racing BBC SPORT | Other Sport | Horse Racing | Ten Flat legends Ten Flat legends A rundown of some great horses from Flat racing's glittering history. Sea Bird II Trainer: Etienne Pollet Trained in France, Sea Bird II ran only eight times (and just once in England) but won seven of his races. He claimed the 1965 Derby with devastating ease and then destroyed a top-class field in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe later that year. He was retired after that race and stood at stud in the US before returning to France where he died in 1973.

Nijinsky Kahyasi (1988) Generous (1991) Nijinsky won all of his five races as a two-year-old and also secured the traditional Triple Crown (2,000 Guineas, Derby, St Leger) in 1970 - the last horse to do so. That season he also took the Irish Derby and the King George & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes before being beaten a head in the Arc. He was sent to stud in Kentucky and went on to become a leading sire. Nijinsky died in 1992, aged 25. Brigadier Gerard Trainer: Major Dick Hern He was one of the greatest milers ever seen on a racecourse, winning all four of his races as a two-year-old and went on to beat arch-rival Mill Reef in the 2,000 Guineas in 1971. That season he also won the St James' Palace Stakes, the Sussex Stakes, QEII Stakes and the Champion Stakes. He also took the latter two the following year, in addition to the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.

In all, he won 17 of his 18 races, ridden every time by Joe Mercer. He was then retired to stud and died in 1989, aged 21. Mill Reef Trainer: Ian Balding Mill Reef is widely regarded as one of the best middle-distance horses the racing world has ever seen. A phenomenal two-year-old season saw him win five races from six starts. Runner-up in the 2,000 Guineas in 1971, Mill Reef then reeled off the Derby, the Eclipse, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He set a record of six consecutive Group One wins, which remained unsurpassed for 30 years before Rock of Gibraltar's triumphs. Mill Reef followed up the next season with the Coronation Cup before fracturing a foreleg and being retired to stud. His offspring included Derby winner and top sire, Shirley Heights. Mill Reef was put down at the age of 18 in 1986 on account of a deteriorating heart condition.

Shergar Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute Shergar: A legend both on and off the track The infamous Shergar won six of his eight races, including the 1981 Derby, which he landed by the largest ever margin. He also enjoyed easy victories in the Irish Derby and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. Despite his impressive racing record, he will best remembered for the fate that befell him after retirement. Shergar had spent just one season at stud when he was kidnapped. Ransom demands were issued but it is thought he was killed shortly afterwards when the kidnappers panicked. The IRA was blamed for the snatch but there remains no conclusive proof of what happened to him. Oh So Sharp Trainer: Henry Cecil This filly was winner of seven of her nine races, including three Classics in 1985. She was the last horse - and the first since 1955 to win the fillies' Triple Crown - the 1,000 Guineas, the Oaks and the St Leger. After the latter race, she was retired to stud.

Nashwan Trainer: Major Dick Hern Nashwan and Carson were a great team Ridden in all his races by Willie Carson, Nashwan claimed both his races as a two-year-old and then landed a massive gamble to win the 2,000 Guineas in 1989. He also won the Derby, the Eclipse and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, the only horse to secure all four races in the same season. Nashwan was retired to stud with his syndication value of ï¿½18m making him the most valuable stallion at the time. Cigar Trainer: Bill Mott Cigar won 19 of his 33 races, 12 of them at Grade One level and equalled the US record of 16 consecutive wins. His victories included the Breeders' Cup Classic and the first ever Dubai World Cup in 1996 (his only race outside the US) and he amassed almost $10m in prize money. He was retired to stud but proved infertile.

Dubai Millennium Trainer: David Loder/Saeed Bin Suroor Dubai Millennium was the jewel in Godolphin's crown He won nine of his 10 races and is rated by Frankie Dettori as the best horse he has ever ridden. Bred by his owner Sheikh Mohammed and originally named Yaazer, he was a beaten favourite in the 1999 Derby but went on to win the QEII Stakes. He was renamed for the 2000 Dubai World Cup and won the race with ease, also winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. A broken hind leg ended his racing career and he was sent to stud but tragically died of grass sickness in 2001. Rock of Gibraltar Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Jointly owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, 'The Rock' won 10 of his 13 starts and a record seven consecutive Group One races, including the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas. His run only came to an end when he was an unlucky runner-up in the Breeder's Cup Mile. It was his last race before retirement to stud at the end of 2002.

The 2,000 Guineas Stakes - Details of History and Betting Thoroughbreds only History of the 2,000 Guineas Stakes The 2,000 Guineas Stakes was established in 1809 by Sir Charles Banbury. He was Steward of the Jockey Club at the time, and he had previously been involved in creating the Epsom Derby. The race was named after the amount of prize money that was awarded back then. Its inaugural running was won by a horse named Wizard. During the first few years, the 2,000 Guineas was dominated by a small number of trainers who consistently did well. It was a very competitive race, as it is today, and by the middle of the 19th century it was considered one of the most important for three year old Thoroughbreds. It was about this time that the term British Classics was introduced as a collective description for the 2,000 Guineas and four other key flat races. The 2,000 Guineas Stakes Today The race is run annually in late April or early May, not long after the flat season has started.

Although served by trial races including the Craven Stakes and the Greenham Stakes, for many three year olds it is the first race of the season. It takes place on the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket, and has a prize pool of around £350,000. It is one of three races that make up the English Triple Crown (the others being the Epsom Derby and the St. Leger Stakes), and the first of them to be run each year. Betting on the 2,000 Guineas Stakes As it is particularly competitive and comes early in the season, the 2,000 Guineas Stakes can be a tough race to bet on. There are several factors that you need to look at when making a selection and this includes looking at the two year old form of horses. It’s also a good idea to look at the ante-post market and see what’s happening to the odds. Most bookmakers offer an ante-post betting market on this race, and many do choose to place wagers some time in advance of the race to try and get better odds.

This means that a clear favorite will often start to emerge and following the money is not a bad strategy if you’re struggling to find your own pick. Studying movements in the odds in advance will certainly help you gain some idea about the respective chances of the field. If you’re looking to place a wager on the 2,000 Guineas Stakes then we would advise using one of our recommended online betting sites. These offer several advantages, including sign up bonuses and competitive odds. Horse Racing Top Five 2000 Guineas Winners Ever | The StanJames.com Blog Top Five 2000 Guineas Winners Ever Top Five 2000 Guineas Winners Ever Submitted by lradford on Horse Racing Social Sharing: With the first British Classic of the horse racing Flat season upon us this at Newmarket this Saturday, we’ve got into the 2000 Guineas spirit here at StanJames.com and have taken a trip down memory lane with a look at the five most memorable winners of the 2000 Guineas ever (in no particular order). Tell us who your favourite is in the comments section below!

Click Here For More Horse Racing Betting Frankel Dubbed one of the greatest ever racehorses, Frankel won the 2000 Guineas in 2011 in the manner of a machine. He did everything expected of him and more when he took apart his opponents in devastating style (he was the shortest –priced favourite in the race since 1974 at odds of 1/2). Frankel went straight into the lead before slamming his rivals by six lengths, the biggest winning margin since Tudor Minstrel in 1947. His performance was described as barely believable - you can judge for yourself by watching Frankel’s 2000 Guineas here . Brigadier Gerard One of the best and most popular British thoroughbred horses of the 20th century, Brigadier Gerard won 17 of his 18 races. Some even say Frankel isn’t as good as Brigadier Gerard was (but what do you think?). He raced arguably the finest race in recent times when he beat Mill Reef to second place in the 1971 Guineas, winning by three lengths.

When ‘the Brigadier’ defeated Mill Reef and My Swallow in the 2000 Guineas that year , it was proclaimed that never before in the history of Flat racing had three such champion-class two-year-olds from the previous season taken each other on in a Classic. Nijinsky Nijinsky is the last horse to win the British Triple Crown (the 2000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby and the St Leger) which he did in 1970. Nijinsky was dubbed ‘the Jesus Christ’ of Flat racing because of his electrifying, almost contemptuous style of racing, and he won the 1970 2000 Guineas by two and a half lengths when ridden by the legendary Lestor Piggott. Nijinsky also won the Irish Derby and the King George in an incredible three-year-old season before becoming an enormous success as a stallion. Sea The Stars A total of 35 horses have completed the double (winning the 2000 Guineas and the Derby) with Sea the Stars the most recent in 2009.

He was 8/1 when he won the 2000 Guineas of 2009 with the favourite Delegator (3/1) beaten into second. The 2000 Guineas was only the start for Sea The Stars as he went onto prove his versatility and class by winning a series of Group 1 races over a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half, including the Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Many considered him the best thoroughbred in a generation until the mighty Frankel came along a couple of seasons later. Dancing Brave Despite having never contested a Group race and being rated eleven pounds below top-rated Bakharoff in the international classification, Dancing Brave went into the 1986 2000 Guineas with a big reputation and started a solid favourite for the 2000 Guineas in 1986 ( ). Ridden by Greville Starkey, Dancing Brave’s performance was labelled the best in the race in the 1980s.

Most say Dancing Brave was only beaten by his jockey’s bad tactics in the 1986 Derby otherwise he would have won the double, but he did end the year rated the highest horse in the world after winning the Eclipse, King George and an Arc which included the unbeaten French derby winner Bering. 2,000 Guineas Stakes - Race Details and More FAQ 2,000 Guineas Stakes The 2,000 Guineas Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race that takes place annually in England. It’s one of many major racing events held in Great Britain every year with over 200 years of history. The race is named after the size of the prize pool that used to be awarded, although the money involved is substantially higher these days. The founding of the 2,000 Guineas Stakes was heavily influenced by Sir Charles Bunbury in his role at the Jockey Club. Race Details The 2,000 Guineas Stakes is open to three year old Thoroughbreds, excluding geldings, and is run over exactly one mile (just over 1,600 meters).

It takes place each year in either late April or early May on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket Racecourse, on a grass surface. It's a flat race, and the prize pool is currently £450,000 with the winner receiving over £200,000. It's the first leg of the UK Triple Crown and one of the five British Classics. Sir Charles Bunbury & the 2,000 Guineas Stakes The first 2,000 Guineas took place over 200 years ago in 1809. At the time, Sir Charles Bunbury was Steward of the Jockey Club and instrumental in organizing the race. Several years earlier, Bunbury had also played a part in establishing The Epsom Derby which had proved to be successful. Both the Derby and the 2,000 Guineas Stakes are still regarded today as among the biggest horse races in the world, and Bunbury holds an important status in the history of British Horse Racing. He later introduced the 1,000 Guineas Stakes (for fillies only): another of the five British Classics.

A horse named Wizard won the first 2,000 Guineas Stakes, ridden by the jockey Bill Clift. Interestingly, Clift also went on to win the first ever 1,000 Guineas Stakes as well. The early years of the race were dominated by three trainers (Robson, Boyce, and Edwards) who between them were responsible for well over half of the first 30 wins. Since then, the 2,000 Guineas Stakes has proved to be an incredibly competitive race and it's often very hard to pick out the winner. As mentioned, the race is the first leg of the UK Triple Crown, followed by the Epsom Derby and the St. Leger Stakes . 2,000 Guineas Stakes Records A number of records associated with the 2,000 Guineas Stakes have been held for a very long time, and it's conceivable that some of them will never be broken. For example, the jockey with the most wins in this race is Jem Robinson who was victorious 9 times between 1825 and 1848.

The trainer with the most wins is John Scott with 7 winners between 1842 and 1862. The record for the lowest number of runners is 2, set in 1829. The shortest priced winner ever was St Frusqin, who won in 1896 with odds of less than 1/10. A more recent record was set in 2012 when Sue Magnier became the owner with the most wins in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes: Camelot being her seventh horse to win. The fastest winning time in the race was also relatively recent, set by Mister Baileys in 1994 at 1 minute 35.08 seconds. The 2016 Guineas Stakes was run on May 7th, 2016 and was won by the horse, Galileo Gold. The win brought a total prize of £282,841. The horse was trained by Aidan O'Brien and the jockey was Ryan Moore. The 2017 2,000 Guineas is set to be run on May 6th.

Article Details The 2,000 Guineas: What It Is, History & Analysis - SportsBettingTips.org Home / Sports Betting For Dummies / The 2,000 Guineas: What It Is, History & Analysis The 2,000 Guineas: What It Is, History & Analysis By Graeme Posted: March 9, 2015 The British horse racing flat season has five Classics – two of them are open to fillies only. All of them are open to three year-old horses only. The first of these classics is the 2,000 Guineas – the real start of the British flat racing season at end of April or the beginning of May. It is the first leg in British horse racing’s Triple Crown – followed by the Epsom Derby and the St Leger. It is also the first Group One race in the British horse racing calendar. The 2,000 Guineas is one of the races open to three year-old colts and fillies only, and is run at Newmarket, the racecourse which is seen as the home of British horse racing.

It is run over one mile on, and is traditionally run on the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket, which is a turf track. What makes the Rowley Mile so unique is the undulation of the track at around the six furlong mark (1.2km), with a dip followed by a slight incline towards the line. Each horse must carry nine stone, with fillies getting a three pound allowance to ensure they can compete on a fairer playing field against the colts. The 2,000 Guineas takes its name from the size of its original purse – the guinea being an old British coin – of its first running in 1809. The size of the purse has grown considerably since 1809, with the last race in 2014 giving just over £255,000 to the winner, which was Night of Thunder. The list of winners of the 2,000 Guineas reads like a who’s who of British horse racing, with some of the most famous horses having won the race over its 200 years.

Nijinsky, ridden by Lester Piggott, was the 1970 winner of the 2,000 Guineas, and is perhaps best known for winning British Horse Racing’s Triple Crown – following up his win in the 2,000 Guineas with a famous victory in the Epsom Derby and then comfortably winning the St Leger. Other notable winners of the 2,000 Guineas include Queen Elizabeth II’s horse Pall Mall, Sir Ivor, Brigadier Gerard, Dancing Brave, Nashwan, Rock of Gibraltar, Sea The Stars and the great Frankel. There has only been on dead heat in the history of the 2,000 Guineas, and that came back in 1868 when Formosa and Moslem crossed the line together. The reason for this being the only dead heat in the history of the 2,000 Guineas is that at the time races ending in a dead heat would be run again between the two horses only, unless the owners decided to split the prize money. In this case, the owners split the prize money after originally agreeing to a rematch at the end of that day’s racing.

The most controversial running of the 2,000 Guineas may be 1980’s running of the race. The race was originally won by Nureyev, but the race was awarded to Known Fact, after Nureyev was disqualified for interfering with several horses as he navigated his way through from the back of the field. To this date, Known Fact is still the only horse to have been awarded the 2,000 Guineas through the disqualification of another horse. Good markers for the 2,000 Guineas are traditionally the big races for two-year-olds, specifically the Racing Post Trophy, which is run at Doncaster Racecourse, the Dewhurst, run at Newmarket, and the Middle Park Stakes, also run at Newmarket. There are also 3 year-old trials run before the 2,000 Guineas which can give pointers to possible contenders, with the Craven Stakes and the Greenham Stakes being the two main races.

However, it is not uncommon for leading contenders to head straight to the 2,000 Guineas without a prep run, as long as they have wintered well, of course, and trained on. Winning the 2,000 Guineas is not a guarantee of continued success, but the most important thing is that it gives owners the chance to add a zero or two to the end of its stud fee! United States: Subscribe to our free sports betting tips and get them in your inbox daily. Plus get exclusive bonuses and promos only for people from United States. Enter your email address: Epsom Derby Horse Race Details, History, and More FAQ The Epsom Derby The term "derby" is used in many horse races throughout the world such as the Australian Derby, the Kentucky Derby , and the Irish Derby, to name a few. The original Derby, and essentially the influence for many similarly named races, is the Epsom Derby. In Britain, it is known simply as "The Derby" and is the most esteemed race on the horse racing calendar. It's also the richest with a prize pool of well over £1 million.

Race Details The Epsom Derby is held in early June every year at the Epsom Downs racecourse in England. It's run over a distance of 1 mile, 10 furlongs, and 10 yards, which is 2,432 meters. It's open to three-year-old Thoroughbred colts and fillies (geldings are excluded) and is a Group 1 flat race run on turf. The winner of the race is awarded of £750,000 in prize money, with further prize money for other high-placing finishers. It is regarded as the biggest race in Great Britain. History of the Epsom Derby The Epsom Derby has a long history and is well over 200 years old. It's not, however, the oldest race held at the Epsom Racecourse. This honor goes to the Oaks Stakes, a fillies-only race and the first recorded in 1779 organized by the Earl of Derby (Edward Stanley). The Oaks Stakes is still held today, although it's now known as the Epsom Oaks.

After the first race took place, the Earl of Derby held a party to celebrate; and it was at this time that a new race for both colts and fillies was discussed. It's said that the idea was formed by Sir Charles Bunbury, Steward of the Jockey Club at the time and the Earl of Derby. Apparently they tossed a coin to decide which of them the race should be named after. Some say that out of respect for his host, Bunbury suggested the race should be named after the Earl. Whichever account is true, it was named the Epsom Derby, and the inaugural race took place the following year in 1780. By coincidence, the winning horse (Diomed) was a horse owned by Sir Charles Bunbury. The race was originally run on a Thursday over 1 mile. The distance was changed to its current length in 1784, and the day was changed to a Wednesday in 1838. The exact scheduling of the date was dependent on Easter; but in 1900, it was fixed to occur on the first Wednesday in June each year.

This remained the case until 1995, except during the two World Wars and a few occasional years when it was run on other days. In 1995, it was decided the race should be moved to the first Saturday in June, and this has been the case ever since. The British Classics & the Triple Crown The Epsom Derby is one of the five British Classics: a collection of important flat races for three-year- old Thoroughbreds. The other four races in this group are the 2,000 Guineas Stakes , the 1,000 Guineas Stakes, the Epsom Oaks, and St. Leger Stakes. No horse has ever won all five of these races, although two have won four of them. The Epsom Derby is also part of the UK Triple Crown which also includes the afore-mentioned 2,000 Guineas stakes and the St. Leger Stakes. Betting on the 2017 Epsom Derby The Epsom Derby is a very popular race among horse racing bettors, not just in Britain but also around the world. It's a hard race to judge as not always the favorite wins.

At some point before the 2017 Epsom Derby, we'll add a betting preview to this page and offer advice on the contenders. If you are looking for a place to bet on the 2017 Epsom Derby, we suggest taking a look at our recommended gambling sites here on . Article Details Lester Piggott: Jockey on Frankie Dettori, Frankel & fairytales - BBC Sport BBC Sport Lester Piggott: Jockey on Frankie Dettori, Frankel & fairytales By Frank Keogh From the section Horse Racing Share this page Read more about sharing. Lester Piggott had his first race aged 12 and rode until a few years ago "How old is he now?" people whisper in passing. The tell-tale lines on his well-weathered face give the game away. He will be 80 this year. "Of course you never think about going this far," he says. "Nobody really wants to be 80, do they? I suppose it comes to us all." I'm face-to-face with Lester Piggott, described this week by fellow record-breaking jockey AP McCoy as the "greatest sportsman of all-time".

He is partially deaf with a speech defect that gives him a low nasal tone. We are sitting as close as chess players. As many of Piggott's rivals found during a riding career which made him a household name, things are conducted on his terms. No nonsense. Each word delivered as precisely as one of his 4,493 British winners. He's smart, slight, sun-kissed. The Swiss air, in which he now resides, is clearly doing him good. Trademark grey suit, polished black loafers. "I do plenty of exercise. I walk quite a bit, but I haven't ridden in three or four years," he says. There are no spoken regrets, no plans for a big party to mark his ninth decade - which begins on 5 November - though he "really ought to do something". Plenty of pauses, but plenty of insight too, if you're patient. In the course of our conversation he says Frankie Dettori is the best, Frankel isn't, current jockeys are better than previous generations, and recalls his own "fairy story" comeback 25 years ago.

Piggott, aged 12, studies the form in 1948, the year he won his first race 'Better jockeys now... but they should be' Piggott set new landmarks in a racing career which began at the age of 12 in 1948 and continued into the 1990s, via a spell in prison which made front page news, and two retirements. He was a master of coaxing half-a-ton of thoroughbred at speeds topping 35mph round Epsom's unique mile-and-a-half rollercoaster track, winning the Derby an unprecedented nine times. That is two more than recent champion jockeys Kieren Fallon, Dettori and Ryan Moore have between them. All of this on a starvation diet, reputedly majoring in champagne and cigars, and riding at up to a stone-and-a-half below his natural weight. Tall for a flat jockey at nearly 5ft 8in, he weighed as little as 8st 5lb. They called him the Long Fellow.

Lester Piggott in numbers Classic wins: 30 Derby: 9 St Leger: 8 Oaks: 6 2,000 Guineas: 5 1,000 Guineas: 2 Royal Ascot victories: 116 Of his 30 Classic victories, eight came in the world's oldest - the St Leger - which will be run again on Saturday at Doncaster. This is where we chat on the lawn on the inside of the track. For a man regarded by many racing observers as the greatest jockey, some of his comments about the current crop come as a surprise. "Overall they are better now. They're more stylish," he says. Pause. Is there a punchline? "Of course you have to remember they get so much more practice. I'd have maybe 500 rides a year and some of them are getting 1,000. They should be better, by average," he adds.

Piggott relaxes with a cigar at home in 1981, one of 11 years in which he finished champion jockey 'Everything changes - it's progress' Piggott was champion jockey 11 times between 1960 and 1982 in an era where rivals included talented riders like Willie Carson and Pat Eddery. The format for the championship, which still sees the rider with most victories winning the title, has changed from this year. Rather than the full term of the British turf flat racing season from mid-March to early November, it now runs from early May to the middle of October. The move has been branded sacrilege by some traditionalists, but Piggott sees the benefits - meaning top jockeys can still ride in the big autumn races abroad without affecting their domestic title hopes. "Everything changes, even in everyday life. It's progress. Everything is faster," says Piggott, who will present the trophy to the winning jockey at Ascot on British Champions Day on 17 October. "I think it's right now because they've got everybody riding and it finishes at a reasonable time.

"There's so many big meetings all over the world that the better jockeys have to go to. The horses they have been riding are running in those big races." Would Piggott have won more titles under the new system? "I'd hope so," he replies. And you suspect he knows so. Piggott on current jockeys On Frankie Dettori - "Frankie really is the best, isn't he?" So what sets him apart - judgement, pace? I ask. "Nobody knows that - if you knew, you could make jockeys." On Ryan Moore: "He doesn't say very much, but everybody's different. Frankie does a lot of talking, I suppose, but he's been good for racing. They are two different people." On Silvestre de Sousa, the current title favourite who is nearly 30 wins ahead of nearest rival William Buick: "He's got a good lead now and seems unbeatable." The greatest horse? Not Frankel Despite the passage of time, the names of horses he rode many years ago live on in the racing lexicon - Nijinsky, The Minstrel, and his own personal favourite Sir Ivor.

He rode Nijinsky 45 years ago to become the last partnership to win the British Triple Crown - the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Leger - but the horse does not feature at the top of his best-ever list. "The greatest horse I've seen is Seabird. I always thought Seabird was the best, then Ribot and then probably Frankel," he says. He did not ride any of them. Seabird won the Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1965, Ribot was a two-time Arc winner a decade earlier, while Frankel went 14 races unbeaten before retirement in 2012. Piggott won the 1970 St Leger on Nijinsky to complete the Triple Crown The Voice of Racing - 'an exceptional man' Piggott lost a close friend last month when the former BBC racing commentator Sir Peter O'Sullevan died at the age of 97. "Sir Peter was part of racing for so long. He was there every day more or less. He became a big friend," recalls the former jockey. "He was an exceptional man.

I used to see him quite a lot right until the end." O'Sullevan was quoted in one of his last interviews as saying he had hinted to the Queen that Piggott might be given his OBE back. The honour was withdrawn when Piggott was jailed for three years in 1987 after being found guilty of an alleged tax fraud of more than £3m. With time off for good behaviour, he served a year and a day in prison. He dismisses the OBE story as "rubbish", so I ask how he feels about that whole episode now. "I don't want to talk about that," he says. Piggott looks into the distance. I'm boxed in and look for an opening. Nowhere to go, until we revisit a great racing tale. Piggott and trainer Vincent O'Brien were reunited in 1990 Fairytale comeback - at the age of 54 The awkwardness evaporates as I ask about one of Piggott's greatest rides - which featured in a Sunday Times list of the '50 great sporting moments of the 20th Century'.

After a stalled training career and prison, he made a triumphant return to the saddle in 1990 at the age of 54. Just 12 days out of his second retirement, Piggott guided Royal Academy, trained by old ally Vincent O'Brien, to victory in one of the world's richest races - the $1m Breeders' Cup Mile. "It was Vincent O'Brien. He made the suggestion really. I wasn't thinking about it. He said 'why not come back?' and I did," he recalls. The jockey showed all his icy nerve as he waited to pounce, seizing victory in the final strides, prompting the on-course commentator to call him "the living legend". Recalling the victory at Belmont Park, New York, Piggott said: "He wasn't really a mile horse. I had to ride him to get the trip and had to wait. He was always a little bit slow into his stride. "It was a good performance that day. He was going very well. I don't know what happened but on the turn for home he slipped. He lost his footing and just stopped for a few strides.

To get up and win after that, he had to be a good horse." You broke into a rare post-race smile, I suggest to him, having watched the footage back. "It was exceptional really. It was like a fairy story and they don't often happen." And he smiles again, ending on another victory. Share this page

Question: In British Horse racing the Triple Crown is regarded of being the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and which other race?
Answer: St Leger